Sarah F. Continuing Education

Webinar: Post-Emergent Phase of a Makerspace

From the video description:

“Creating and starting a makerspace is an exciting venture; you build a team and purchase new equipment. There are a lot of resources (people and articles) that describe how emergent makerspaces can get off the ground. Once your makerspace has been open for a few years, you begin to experience challenges that are distinctly different from those start-up challenges, and there are very few, if any, resources that describe what this new, “post-emergent” phase entails. Three labs in the YOUmedia Learning Labs Network will lead you through a workshop where they present and talk through a framework that supports makerspaces in thinking through what this phase involves, and how to not be caught off guard by those challenges.”

Education Innovator on YouTube
Sarah F. Programs & Events

Remake Learning Days

Remake Learning Days is a fun way for your Makerspace to participate in a nationwide movement to help young people thrive. Here in Wisconsin, Remake Learning Days – Badgerland is happening from April 22-30. Check to see if your region is participating!

What is Remake Learning Days? From their website:

“Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) is a celebration of innovative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance and curiosity. Remake Learning Days is a festival of events hosted by a variety of organizations, such as schools, museums, libraries, after school organizations, early child care centers, universities, media centers, tech startups and more.  These events are designed to be hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences for youth of all ages (pre-K through high school) and their families, caregivers and educators.   The majority of events are free and open to kids of all ages.

Events are organized by different learning themes such as: Arts, Maker, Outdoor Learning, Science, Technology and Youth Voice. In addition, there are Professional Development sessions for school, out-of-school, child care and non-traditional educators. Families and youth can search events by  date/time, location, learning theme, age group (pre-K through high school) and more.

RLDAA is presented by Remake Learning with national partnerships with PBS Kids for Parents and Digital Promise, along with many partners and host organizations in fourteen regions across the nation.”

Submit your program here! You will need to create a free account.

Sarah F. Favorite Websites, Starting a Makerspace

Makers in the Library

If there is one place to get started or up your makerspace game, it’s at Makers in the Library. What an incredible resource! Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this website provides an in-depth toolkit that covers virtually every aspect of makerspaces, including a whole lot of extremely helpful planning tools.

Their excel spreadsheets are a gamechanger. Check out the action plan spreadsheet and – best of all because I’m a nerd – the budget spreadsheet! I am always so grateful when people create beautiful spreadsheets full of formulas that I could never figure out.

Stop reading this now and go down the wondrous rabbit hole!

Make sure to subscribe to their newsletter while you are there, and join the Facebook group.